Method and machine for making tubes



Jan. 11, 1944. E C, CRQWLEY' 2,339,219 'A METHOD AND MACHINEFOR MAKING' TUBES' YFiled Aug. s, 1940 Sheetssheet 1 Jan. 11, 1944.

E. c. RowLEY METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBES Filed Aug. 3, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR [ow/mp Mist 6km/ff y ORNEY f A V a.. r Q Nw M RQ K/// d E m5 QS 5 mm Nm, S 5 m9 NQ ,Ns WS S n@ L QS 2L 1| s IFQS ILIrN wmf L .NVP

Jan. 11, 1944. E C` CROWLEY 2,339,219

4 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBES Filed Aug. 3. 1940 I8 Sheets-Sheet I5 5T /00 FinTS 7 `7f lNvx-:NjroR EDWARD (Il/A55 (fan/.1. fr

Y Fill Jan. 11, 1944. E, 'CI CROWLEY 2,339,219 i v v METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKINGTUBES u Filed Aug. 5.11940v y sssheetS-sheet 4" l l k l. .l

Jan. 11,1944. A E, C, CROWLEY V2,559,219A

METHODl AND MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBES Filed Aug. 5. 1940 8 sheets-*sheet 6 '.15 K n Fcil 7/7 n Ficll 1 INVNTOR EDWARD (m55 Cron/LEY ATTO N Jan.f11,1944. ,QCRQMEY Y g-,gw

METHOD AND MACHNE FOR MAKING TUBES Filed Aug. s, 19401 @shwrs-sheet?? TSH-M u 'A E. c. CROWLEY i 2,339,219

Jan. ,11, 1944.

l METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBES Filed Aug. 3, 194g a sheets-sheet 8 27 I c II 1 Q T l f ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 11, 1944 2,339,219 -Y 'METHOD AND mom Foalmxmo' 'runas Edward Lchase crowxey, manchem im?.V Application August. a, 1949, serial Ne. 350,640 f y2 0 claims.

This yinvention relates to a methodv and' machine` for makingtubes, 'and more particularly to machines for producing spirally wound tubes.

An object of the invention is to provide amachine Iorproducing a tube composed of helical ly wound strip material in interlocked formation and wherein such tube hasa cross-section of alternatecurvesand straight lines. v

AA vfurther object of the invention is'to maintain constant feeding of the strip into the machine at a uniform speed bothwhile the sides and-.corners ofthe tube are being formed.

A further object of the vinvention Ais the provision of improvedmeans and method for periodically bending thestrip to yiorxn thecorners of the tube Vat any'desired radius `of curvature and fwith. any desired number of .degre`es of the circle iixed bythe selected radius. f

A further object or the invention is to utilize fthe advancing. impetus or the strip for shifting .the tube laterally within lthe tube-formingcage and lto `provide auxiliary means jfor shifting laterally long and heavy tubes.

A further object of thev inventionis to utilize -intermittent rotation oi the tube-storming cage .as the actuatingv force lfor bendingthe strip to".

iormacorner. I Afm-.ther object of the invention is to automatically release the bending means. whenthe bend is completed and utilize the advancing force of the strip to return the bending means to initial positionready to make the next bend. A further object is to provide support for the material in all the positions and duringand after all the movements to` which it is subjected.

A further object is to utilize the gore formed y by the ilrstand last convolutions on the` helical winding of any v predetermined vlength` of strip material .to `make end closures vof such. tubular section ,of material integral with the main .body V.oi' the tube. v

Further objects of theinvent-,ionv areito pro'- vide astructure which will enable tubes to be to ,secure simplicity of' construction@ and opera- Y non: to. provide tight joints .throughout the sides (cina-35if accompanying drawings, referred to hereinAV and "constituting a part hereof.- yillustrate 'the' invention, and whilethose drawinssanddescription .i of necessity are specific to selected embodiments,

' =ings, wherein@ like numerals lof reference indi :showingessentialsl of a machine` embodyingrny the same creato be considered as explanatory rather than restrictive,v serving the purpose of explaining the inventive concept'and features involved in myy invention. Referring to-said drawcate similarparts through theseveral views-: 1.

Figure 1 is a plan, broken -'away in Mrt, and

invention;v .E

Figure 2 isa l Figure 3, is a cross-.sectionalviewsubstantiallongitudinal sectional view von -ly on linelflof VFigui-e2 o! a portion ofthe .machine` and onajsomewhat increased scale Aover thatofFisureZi I Figure 4 isa sectionalV line'l-l ofFigure 3and with the. scale 'again increased ouerthescale of the preceding 118111725;

Figure 5v isessentially an. end elevationbut withthe base in., section upon lmet-.4.011%- ru re l and looking in the direction indicated'by thearrows: f

v -Figure 6 is `a horizontal sectionv substantially on line 6- 4 of Figure 7; and showingy the handoperated means for adjusting. the dispo.-y sition ofthe preiorming rolls with respectto the sleaming'rolls;

Figure 'l is a vertical l--l of Figure 6;

vFigure Ail is a vertical section through the head Vor mounting'means .for theseamingrollataken' Figure s issnend view .or'thehe'ad' with formed from any desired width of strips and gauge thickness'l oi material; `toenable tubes to be .formed havingf anyxdesired number of fiat sides:

and corners along the entire' edges 0f the spiral Vconvolutions; and to obtain other advantages be brought out in theiollovv-` -and results as may ing description.

The invention consists of novelV parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described. The

lof Figure v8 andlooking in 'the direction indicated 4o bythe arrows; s

Figurejlls .l Figli-reni is across-section substantiallyon .line l |v ,0f .Figure 2 fand showing` theQcage and bending means 'or pusher in operation; 1

Figure 12 is a. `sii ni 1a r` viewfto Figuren; but

of diagrammatic character `for-(showing the op-v.. l

erative relationship of cage and pusher if Figure I3-.gis a plan, vbroken awaydn showing the operative driving coi'mection between the cage and pusher; Figure 14 is a diagrammatic the cage; 5

section thereof-on' line sgsimryiew saftigen-italiaa- ,New of. Figure 8v further inward'or themed;

v View fi-tue.. matie electro-mlechanicall clutch operatirilfl mechanism for automatic periodic actuation Aof i *i ulanas the preformingmechanisms atany'fdesired angle in relation to the seeming rolls. lWhen it is 1de and size of the arcuate tobe produced, bolts 35 are' loosened from base-plate i0 and a manually operated hand wheel 55 (Figures `6-and 7) is turned until the desired angle is indicated vby the pointer 36 relative to a scale51 on'base plate I0. The angle adjusting mechanism further comprises mounting Whel 55 on onev end .of a shaft 54 whose bearing 52 is integral with base plate I0. On the opposite end of shaft 54 a gear 53 meshes with idler gear 50 which in turn drives a gear 43 mountedon shaft 45. Shaft 45 is yjournaledY in bearings 46 and 41 both shown asintegral parts of base plate i 0. An aperture 49 is necessary in baseplate I to allow meshing of gears 48 and 50. On the inner end ofshaft 45 isa worm 44 in co-operation with a worm wheel segmenti"` with teeth at 43 on the table completes the means for turning the preforming mechanisms around .the pivotal axis at H9. f

After thestnp leaves k'the preforming tous it is j moved to the'stationary guide through whichit passes. `'I'his guide is mounted on the rear end of saidswivel table and is shown in Figures 1, 2,3

reir u. eoostroeuo is designato permit the use of various thicknesses of strip material in making the fdifterent articlesfproduced lbythis of gears Gland 04 on the bellcrank lever and inter-connected tothe gear '8l through link. enablesthegears 0| and B I'ca'rriedfon the shafts12 and 86 of rolls 01 and 13 machine.

The mounting to b e adjusted on a `vertical plane' without the disengagementV of any teeth oi' the' gear train. 'Referring to Figure 9 the shaft extension of the upper seeming rroll '13 is .mounted on a sliding bearing block 93designed3 to ,engage and slide on`V its kmachined faces 93? with the stationary faces 95 of a lower bearing block. 94.

In' the upper and lower bearing blocks k93 and f the seaming rolls '13.andf1, are journaled at op Upper lbearingjblock 9'3 is and 4.V "It is formed hylower plate |29 and upper vplate and is the means for'guidingfand supporting the material as it is being fed tothe closingand seaming rolls. It holds the strip steady while'the strip is fed through it for thebendingy -movement and prevents buckling'during Vthe sliding and bending movementsfby 'limiting the motin ofthe strip to its passage through the guide; and preventing any up or down or' lateral movements of 'thestripduring the cycle ofy bending l Aand sliding movements. This'guide 'also aids in the seam formation as hereinafter stated. l

A more complete description of this guide is as' follows: l 1 i Supported on the extension arm I 2| isa, lower 'guidebraoket |22 bolted down to erm m by bolts |3|. Vviaid bracket |22 has al vertical wall'v |23 Vin which a cut-away portion |24 (see 3) is nec-v essary to avoid -contact -with underslung arm |08 when resetting the preforming rolls to the desired angle required. At right angles to andintegral postte ends in bau bearings 11, 1s ahasuertef spectively. At the` rear endof reduced portions or shafts -12 and -as 7o.re.-t11r eeded portions u and` 0 8 which take nutslifand .I9 vent longitudinal displacement. of the seeming rolls 'I3 and 01. Cover plates l0 andll prevent thenuts l5 and 83 from becoming-loose to. defaut the purposeofsaid nuts.,` vf. 'j

supported by downwardly extending shaft portion 90 of hand 'had |00,` said shaftportionfhaving at its lower'Qd an enlargedhead 91 engaging a thrust bearing 98 mounted in arecess of'the' bearingv block I3..y

.' Cover plate 99 screwed, on to the bearingblock 93 is"designed toretain against upward displacej ing block s4.

ment but permit freerotation ofthe head 31..

Shaft portion 33 of'lthe handwh'eel Ill-'ia in threaded engagement with a boss |0| of-an upper seaming v`roll hanger `bracket .|02 whichfintul'n is bolted to the upper framework of lower bear-y Thisconstruction permits the raisingand low- Y eringof'upper bearing block 93 to accommodate with the vertical wall |23 is anupper guide plate |23. A lower guide plate 1291s boltedto the ver |29 (see Fig. 4) serves as a clearance spacev and grooved track for the left hand modified edge of the strip material. As said modiiiededge also protrudes in an upwardly directionV and abovethe lower moe otupper guide m another cut-away' portion|32 is provided therein.`

tical wen m of the bracket m. A drop ingoide movement of thegroovemb m the lowerse l roll'l relation'to-the modified-"edge ofthe incoming lstrip material. Lower bearing worm 30. -designedto engage a' worm wheel 3| keyed to reduced portion 05 of a shaftor lower seamingroll Il.` Also. mounted 'onreduced por,

tion 35 is a gear 02. which drives through a chain the varying thicknesses of strip lmateriaLfund additionally functions'to apply pressure between vthe upper and lower seamingrolls during. tlm applied through hand wheel |00 isheld-by tightening the locknut |0| onto the boss |0| oi bracket |02. e kLower bearing block 94 is'slidably mountedon seaming r4operation. .The pressure base plate `|0. Side'anges |05 ofbearing' block 9 4 lhar/ e elongated apertures |06`to permit lateral machined "slides 1.04. y I

block is bolted down by bolts |01 'and sllded .Referring now more particularly torig'srl and V2 upper steaming` roll-135y extends and. passes 4through 'a rotatablefcylindrical front-carrier .|33 .and issupportedjtherebeyondby a vertically depending arm atv its upper-end to a v'ilangeportion.vlll'jof |021bybolts II 4 The lowerendofthis arm'receivesa reduced end `of rou uiorr'nsie'd therein. j The ylower seam'ingroll l1 also extends Aand passesthroughlcarrierfl'and issupported by en .undersiutig 'erm-in wmon'tsmtegral with of gears 03, 04, 45, to the upper or reduced portion' 1| of shaft or upper seaming roll '|3.` e A bell-cranklever 01 (Ffig. 9) is4 pivotally connected to reduced portion fof the shaft 01 at* 68 and the opposite endof the bell-crank lever 01 is pivotally connected to the end yof a straight linkv 68, las at 59, the other end of this link/being pivotally connected to the reduced portion 'Ii .of the f As the stri'pleaves the lower bearing blockl 94j'A and yalso"projects' through the said carrierto provide a Journal support IIB '.'for'the forward end of said seemingV vrousLM ,l

until the strip contacts one of the *inside walls designed toflire-V seamingl rolls itis moved Y horizontally under .a pusher, which is part of the '1 -bending mechanism fora'predetermined distance tube supported from below by kanism shown gives 'continuous carrier' sections '|35 and |60,

manner. have an 'porting rolls Yf ,saia blocks.

- ing |31. naled in bearing |5| andbushing |58 in block A similancarrier'iW-is located somedistance' 70 1 likewise is causedto make a quarter turn around Y which itis suspended. This tumbling 01 brings'it to the corner i quadrant of the cylinder. The sliding motion is from the left corner horizontally backl to the next the intervening'space and with the the interior framethe cylinder. In other words, the sliding motion `is outhe line of the chord o the arc de-v scribed by the' bending movement and fixed by the diagonal of the tube as a rad The mechits positions andk movements.

tube in all y calls for a viously, a rectangular tube,

` rectangular outline of `the interior ofthe framework of the 4cylinder to provide support for the two different 'lengthsV` and positions of lthe two arcsandchords described by the rotation of a rectangleas aforesaid. l The means for supporting the. front andrear i mechanisms for controlling them are best shown "in .iigs,'l, 2, 5 andf11. f A lpair of supporting blocks |36 and |31 are mounted on the base plate Vl in anyv suitable The guide blocks |36 and |31v each inner facewhich is circular in shape and with its upper the carrier so that, in co-operation with the csupsupport; |38 and Mounted on the inner surface of the 6 Vand |31 are metal bands |39 also'semi-vcircular inshape andsecured in any suitable manner to the .semi-'circular faces of vSecured in any suitable manner to bands are two setsof roller-supportangle-irons |38! and I39av which are substantially semi-circular in appearance. Sup- Yported between angle-irons |385, |38. and |39a, `|39., are the supporting rollers |40 and |4| which carry the weight of carrier- |35. f I The-supporting rollers |40, outside edges y provide. a track in which the 'carrier rotates and prevent any lateral sliding movement. Y y

` d on the outside |44secure d to an |35-is driven by an intermediate gear* |45 mounted on the inner angley iron |36...

' is driven by `a i A `ring' gear to the right of carrier |35, as'viewedin' Fig. 2 to receive and guide the finished-product prior to. the cutting-o" nuchanisr'n (not Carrier |60 is'spaced away from carrier cording to the length and weight f assaaiay i This carrier the start of a; bending in thejlow- 5 through a reduction substantially rs'emiextremities I terminating alittle abovethe horizontal axis of y |40 and |4|, carrier |35 will be pre-v vented from any jumping movement due to its also which is secured to a driving shaft mounted and yjournaledfin bushing`|49 of block Y |50 is. further supported and 'jour product or I secured used tially lsemi-circular secured t0 a meta mounted porting blockl6l. A ing'shaft |50 turns gear rier |60 to revolve at |35 through co-oper,

The motive power carriers |35 and |60 is taken from a motor |51 |55 and chain tovsh'aft |50.. revolution clutch'of any welll known make, V| 2, has part ci its and part to l clutch are constructed in such a m clutch any predetermined riers to be stopped during rotationand time when the bending of the strip takes place. VAs Ashown in Figure 2, ktwoupright members |12 and bracketed and boltedto base plate l0 to support a triangular pusher block |15 (see also Fig. 1 1). These uprights |12 andv |13 arepositioned re pectively to the left of the rightyot carrier |60 in said l d support the pusher |15 between them in pivotal mountings at the top of theuprlghts Fig. 2,'-a mid portion broken away to contract the pusher is continuous |12, through carrier wheel carrier |35 and to and extends from upright |35,^from there to and through carrier upright |13.

Said pusher is, cross-section, and is recessed on one a nose portion, the extremity or apex i of that face. This nose portion is the only part |15 bearing against the strip ma as indicated, triangular in 45 to be bent. It will lso beseen that the carriers {co-operation with the pusher 15 is the means usedl to bend and formy the rounded corners of the rectangular or other article or tube being produced.

now to Figure 1v1, this triangularVV pusher block is free to swing upon an between the bearings and mountings. Extending radially from the bar, and at opposite |11, |11 designed t0 pivot center of ends thereof, are be engaged and pushed by pins |10 protruding from the carriers |35 and |60.

As the centers ofrotation carriers-and |11 are ofiset one from the pusher two arms of the above said have movedv the pu this point pins |19 are ready to' slip of! the pusher arms |11 as shown' in dotted'lin'esin Y in full lines in Fig. 13. y by 'electrical means hereinafter theclutch' |52is operated in 'f f* tostoprotation ofthe carriers |35 and |60.

It will be remembered to the machine is fed continuously. When the automatically stopped asvv just defeeding in, `and its motied to start the carriers in opera- 5 `tion again as will now be'described.

example eight feet. Additional carin substantially semi-circular supface to form to be described,

'vancing means for lthe formati said strip material ma said machine during oper-i Y ation thereof.

7. An apparatus for forming out-of-roundtubulary structures having alternating plane and curved surfaces for the walls thereofr'andfcomr- Vposed of a strip of metal helically wound'upon seaming rolls, supporting meansV for carrying said tubular structure forward during formation of said Vplane surfaces and means for bending said vstripfor the formation of said curved surfaces.

-8. Anvapparatus for forming out-of-round tubular` structures having alternating yplane and curved surfaces for the walls thereof and composed of a'strip of metal helically wound upon itself in a series ofconv'olutions with the adjacent edges of the stripsy forming successive' convolutions yjoined and. interlocke'd, comprising `25 kmeans for scoring opposite'faces of thestrip at the operation of said bending means.'v

opposite edges thereof 'with longitudinal grooves,

means for prelforming the edges of-the Astrip for interengagemena a pair of seaming rolls for-lock ing theedges of successive convolutions together in the lformation of a seam with said 'scored edges in overlapped relation within theinterior of the seams, means for advancing said strip ythrough said preforming means and seaming rolls, supforward during formation of said planersurfa'ces and means for bending said strip for the forma.- tion of said curved surfaces. l

e 9. An apparatus for forming out-oferound tubular structures having alternating plane and d) curved surfaces for thev walls thereof and composed of a strip of metal helicallv wound upon' ity .i said curved surfaces. l n l in 11..An apparatus for formingoutf-of-roundv tubular structures having alternating plane and means for bending said strip for the form curved surfaces for the'` walls thereofland-composed of a strip of metal helically wound upon itselfin a seriesofconvolutions with the adjaicent `edges of the strips forming successive con-f v olutions joined and interlocked,. comprising. 10 means'for preforming the edges'of the strip for interengagemena apair of seeming rolls for lock-v ing the edges of successivekconvolutions Vtogether in the formation of a seam. means for y,advancing said strip lthrough said `preforming means and tubularl structure forward y during formation of said plane surfaces and meansfor bending-saidstrip for lthe formation ofsaidcurved surfaces, said supporting means being vdisplaceable during 1 2. 'An apparatus for forming -out-of-round .tubularfstructures having alternating plane and Y curved surfaces for the walls v thereof andcomposed of a strip kfoi' metalhelically woundv upon cent edges of the strips forming successive con- .volutions yJoined andinterloclked, comprising prei forming means forshaping the edges of the strip ands'eaming rolls fork securely locldng the edges L of the vstrips of successive convolutions. together,

and means for supporting 4said formed tubular structure and carrying the same in ,a rectilinear path inline with, said seaming rollsduring for-k a mation of the seams'along saidl planesurfaces,

' porting means for carrying saidtubular structurey 35 self in a series of convolutions with the adjacent y edges of the stripsforming successive convolu tions joined' and interloclsed, comprising means;

for preforming the edges of the strip forinterengagement, a pair of seaming rolls for locking the edges of successive convolutions together in the formation of a seam, means for advancing said strip through said preforrning means and seaming rolls, supporting means for carrying said tubular with said yseaming rollsdur'ing' formation. ofthe i 13.2.An apparatus 'for forming yout-of-round tubulargstructures having alternating plane'and curved surfaces for the walls thereo'fland com'-.v

y posed of a stripy of metal hellcallywound upon itself in a series lof convolutions with the'adjacent,

edges'of the strips-forming successive 'convoluf seaming rolls for securely locking the edges of the y strips of successive convolutions together, neansV for supporting said formedtubular structure and carryingthe vsame in varectilinear path in line seamsalong said plane surfaces, and means for structure forward during formation of said plane v surfaces andmeans for bending said vstrip while Y Vsaid strip is in motion, comprising a lever mech-4 anism actuated infco'ordination with strip acl-X surfaces.

10. An apparatus L for ',forming`rout-of-round tubular structures having alternating plane and 'Y curved surfaces forthek walls thereof and composed of a. strip'of metal helically woundupon-itself in a series of convolutionsy with the. adjacent Vedges of the strips forming successive convolu-v tions joined and interlocked, comprising meansV on of said curved swinging said formed structure 'during formation cessive strip, lconvolutions for -the plane surface to-bexseamed.

14; Anf apparatus for `forming out-ofround ,tubular'structures having aIternatingpIane and curved surfaces .fori the walls thereofl and yconiposed of a strip of metal helically wound upon itllength o! fthe selfin aiseriesof convolutions-with the-adjacent Y edges of y.the strips 4forming successive convolu.v4

ingmeans forshaping the' edges of the'strip' and tions joined and interlocked, comprising preformseaming rolls vfor securely locking `thejedges .of

for preformin'g the edges of'thestrip for4 interengagement,` a pair of seeming 1121184 for locking thev 'edges of successive convolutions together in the j'formationpof a seam. means for advancing said strip through said preforming means faiidseaming rolls, supporting means for carrying said tubular structure forward during formation of said plane surfaces and formed with separate sections for receiving and supporting said tubular structure during formation of each plane surface and Y the strips of successive loonvolutions together, andy means for supporting said formed tubularstruc-l ture and carryingthe same in-a rectilinearp'ath in line with 'said1seamingro1ls `during `formation vof theseams along-,said plane surfaces,said

seeming. rolls applyingtwo successive loperations to' successive seams.,`1 n ilrst locking the seamed together and second com solidating the locked seam.

15;'rhe method of forming tubular structures r having alternating .p lane sides and curved corners and composed of a strip of metal formed with v preshaped edges and helically wound upon itself ation of,

seaming rolls, supporting means for carrying said y itselfin a series-oftconvolutions with theadia-j tions joinediand interlocked, comprising preformy ing means yfor shaping the 'edges ofthe strip 'and of said curves into position'fto. p1' ocl uceinterenl vgagement 'of the adjacent: shaped edges of' sucpressing and conin a series of continuous convolutions, comprising forming convolutions in said strip of metal by continuously feeding'said strip forward longitudinally v*of itself and seaming the oncoming strip to the previously formed convolutions in the y formation ofsaid plane sides while moving said previously formed vconvolutions forward in a rectilinear path, and seaming the oncoming strip to the previously formed convolutions and-simultaneously bending said oncoming strip in the formation of said curved corners while swinging Vsaid convolutions in anV arcuate'movement. A

i6. The method of forming tubular structures having plain walls and curved corners comprising longitudinallyV grooving and crimping the edge portions of a continuous'metal strip so that they will hook one into4 the otherV with said grooves 'inthe'interior of the seam so formed whenisaid strip is assembled on itself inl a continuous'helical 'formation of continuousconvolutions, with'reachA convolution havingthe same cross sectionalV dimensions andoutline as, and

constituting a part of, the body of such tubular l structures, forming such 'convolutionsby the constrip as so advancedfby making a uniform oblique Y and transverse curve at the ends ofsuch sections,

winding sucnconvvolutlons in a continuous helical formation and locking the edges thereof together in a continuous' helical seam by alternately rotating said longitudinal sections backward in an arcuate path and moving the same forward in Y a horizontal path in a cyclic series of movements wherein each said longitudinal `section is intermlttently-mfoved from one position-and presented i 'in another position alongside of, but in advance of'hsaid forwardly feeding strip, with one grooved I Y and crimpedledge of said longitudinal section in substantial `vertical alignment with the complee mentary grooved and crimped edge of the feeding strip and wherein'said longitudinal section is .moved iorward horizontally withy said feeding :.strip and saidcomplementary edges locked ton ture as the seaming devices form the seam on the straight side #of the structure, `bending means vfor y turning the tubular structureas thev curves are rformed `and meansY 'for preventing ,lateral and vertical movement in the advancing v`strip dur- Adefining their cross sectional dimensions and composed of a strip of metal helically wound upon itself in a series of convolutions with the adjacent edges of the ystrip preliminarily'anged, joined and interlocked in the formation of successive convolutions, comprising seaming devices,

, means for supporting the formed tubular structure as the seaming devices form the seam on the straight side of the structure, bending means for turning the tubular structure as the curves are formed and means for preventing lateral and vertical 'movement in the advancing strip during the bending and seaming operation, combined with meansto guide one'fianged edge of said advancing strip between seeming rolls in company with and loosely joined to an adjacent and comple- .inentary anged edge of a formed convolution. A

i9. The method of forming tubular structuresfrom strip metal comprising forming longitudlr nally extending' scores in the surfaces ot said strip iv metal near the opposite side edges thereof, bending said edges into complementary formations for interlocking engagement inthe vproduction of a continuous interlocked seam, :helically Windini said strip into continuous yconvolutions, inter? locking said edges of contiguous convolutions, and simultaneously seaming and sealing the same by interengaging the benty edges of opposite sides of the strip, with-the scores ofl opposed surfaces in intermeshing engagement, and, while conning the material of said interlocked edges against spreading, tightly compressing said interlocked edges to completely lock and seal the central area of said seam.

2 0. The method of forming, seaming, and sealing, in concurrent-I operations, tubular structures from a strip of metal, said method comprising forming. longitudinally extending, vcontinuous scores on opposite faces of a strip of metal of indefinite length near the opposite side edges thereof,` and transversely bending the scored edges of said strip into complementary formations suitable for being interlocked in a four-ply interlocked seam, interengaging the bent edges of opposite sides of the strip, with said scored faces in contact and said scores in intermeshing engagement, and with said edgesinterlocked in a four-ply formation, and simultaneously bending said strip into contiguous convolutions to form a tubular body and, while confining the material of said interengaged edges against spreading, sealing theseam so formed by tightly compressing the interlocked edges to completely close and seal the central area of said seam.

CHASE CROWLEY. 

